Toothpick holder



July 3, 1962 l.. T. RlcHE 3,042,191

TOOTHPICK HOLDER Filed March 2, 1961 IN VEN TOR. Eo/m90 7.d ,Pfc/1e' United States Patent O i 3,042,191 TOOTHPICK HOLDER Leonard T. Riche, 362 Livingston St., Brooklyn 17, N.Y. Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,885 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-37) This invention relates to toothpick holders in general and more especially to sectional toothpick holders.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved toothpick holder which is composed of a number of interconnecting sections which may be arranged into an endless number of interconnecting sections to adapt themselves to a number of predetermined advertising messages, slogans, or the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sectional toothpick holder which may house a dual pointed toothpick with one end protruding a greater distance than the other from the holder to accommodate itself to the whim of the user.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a toothpick holder which will lend itself to receive an aromatic scent or the like, or a medicament.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a sectional unit in which in the interest of effectively anchoring the same to one another, the diminished portions are provided with chamfered spurs or the like.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of speciiic embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an exploded perspective with a toothpick in place, and one section removed exposing one pointed end of the toothpick ready for use.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective with a toothpick in place and the several sections of one embodiment separated from one another.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 with the toothpick in place and fully enclosed.

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of a second embodiment with the toothpick in place and fully enclosed.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the toothpick 1 is shown as of the hollow-quill type, although obviously a toothpick composed of wood or plastic material would do just as Well.

The pick 1 in the present instance has an intermediate body 2 and two oppositely extending pointed end portions 3 and 4, The holder per se in this embodiment consists of four pieces, yto wit, the main section 5, the extension section 6, and the two cap sections 7 and 8.

The main section consists of a cylindrical body portion having two `diminished portions 9 and 10 and an i11- termediate enlarged collar portion 11 with a central opening 12 extending through the diminished por-tions 9 and and collar 11.

The extension section I6 consists of the diminished portion 13 and the elongated enlarged portion 14 having a central opening 15 extending therethrough. The diameter of the opening 15 conforms to the diameter of the opening 12. The diameter of the diminished portion 13 in turn conforms to the diameter of the diminished portions 9 and 10 and the diameter of the elongated enlarged portion 14 conforms to the diameter of the collar 11.

For this embodiment in toothpick closing position, the cap section 8 is provided closed at the end 16 and having an opening 17 conforming to and receiving the diminished portion 1G. 'Ihe diameter of the cap section 8 conforms to the diameter of the collar 5. In turn for receiving the diminished po-rtion 13, the cap 7 is provided closed at the end 18 `and having an opening 19 to 3,042,19l latented July 3, 1962 receive the diminished portion 13. The diameter o-f the cap 7 also conforms to the diameter of the elongated enlarged portion 14. In closed position due to the conformity of the diameters of Ithe collar 5, enlarged portion 14 and caps 7 and 8, a substantially smooth cylindrical surface will be produced rounded by the closed ends 16 and 18 as shown.

In use, if the cap 8 alone is removed as shown in FIG. l, the end 4 of the toothpick 1 alone will be exposed ready -for use. On the other hand, if the cap 8 is in place on the main section 5 and the extension section 6 similarly is in place, a shorter portion of the toothpick 1 may be exposed for use when the cap 7 alone is removed.

The toothpick l may of course be adjusted in the main section 5 so that a greater or less portion of the pointed end 4 may extend from the diminished portion 1li and a greater or less portion of the pointed end 3 extend from the diminished portion 13 of the extension section 6. When the four sections of the toothpiclr holder 5, 6, 7 and 8 are connected to one another as shown in FIG. 3, if it is -desired to have an advertising message placed on the four sections, they oder an excellent opportunity for an advertising man to arrange the several portions of an advertising message whether it be one, two, three or four.

On the other hand if it is desired to have a cornparatively short toothpiclt holder, the extension section 6 may be omitted and yet the advertising man be in position to place the three portions of a suitable message on the sections 5, 7 and 8.

On the other hand if it is desired to have a longer advertising message, slogan, or the like displaced on these toothpick holders, a second extension section, such as the extension section 20, as illustrated .in FIG. 4J may be provided to supplement the main section 21, extension section 22, and cap sections 23 and 24.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, although not necessarily, the section 23 is shorter than the section 24 Whereas in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, -the cap section 7 is shorter than the cap section 8.

It is obvious that any number of sections may be provided depending upon the advertising message to be displayed by providing a number of extension sections such as the extension sections 6, 2() and 22, or none at all.

Excellent results have been achieved when for a four sectional unit such as iilustrated in FIG. 3, the overall length is less than three inches and the overall diameter is approximately 5%6 of an inch. In turn while the sections may be composed of a metal such as aluminium or the like, excellent results have been achieved when the same are composed or" a plastic material such as polystyrene. In turn excellent results have been achieved when the several sections are either of one color or of different colors to meet the various tastes of users.

To facilitate the anchoring of the successive sections to one another the diminished portions such as the diminished portions 9, 10 and 13 are provided with flaring or chamfered projections or spurs such as the projections 25, 26 and 27 respectively.

To satisfy a hygienic or fastidious requirement, the inner walls of the several sections and at least the inner wall of the extension section 6 may be swaobed with either the oil of eucalyptus, the oil of cloves, or an aromatic scent flavored with peppermint or the like.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details` of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a toothpicl; holder the combination of a main section, an extension section having an enlarged portion, two cap sections, the outer lr'aces of said main, extension and cap sections being cylindrical and in alinement, said sections having aligned small openings, diminished portions extending from opposite ends of said main section for entering one of said caps and the enlarged portion of said extension section, a diminished portion on said extension section for entering the other of said caps, the cylindrical outer surfaces of said main, extension and cap sections having successive portions of an advertising medium formed thereon, the small openings of said main section'receiving and holding a toothpick having oppositely extended pointed ends with one of the ends ex't tending from said main section ready for use when one of said cap sections is removed from said main section and said other cap section is secured to said extension section secured to said main section and serves as a handle, said main section at one and the same time anchoring said toothpicli and said other cap section in place.

2. In a toothpick holder the combination of a main section, two cap sections, the outer faces of said main and cap sections being cylindrical and in alignment, said sections having alined small openings, diminished portions extending frorn opposite ends of said main section for entering said caps, the cylindrical outer surfaces of said main and cap sections having successive portions of an advertising medium formed thereon, the small openings of said main section receiving and holding a toothpick having oppositely extended pointed ends with one of the ends extending from said main section ready for use when one of said cap sections is removed from said main section and said'other cap section is secured to said main section and serves as a handle, said main section at one and the same time anchoring said toothpick and said other cap section in place.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which there are two cap sections and at least one extension seotion with the diminished portions on said main section entering adjacent extension and cap sections, and diminished portions on said extension sections entering ad# jacent extension and cap sections.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 658,998 Randall Oct. 2, 1900 1,718,701 OSullivan June 25, 1929 1,838,825 Goldstein Dec. 29, 1931 1,919,811 Stonebraker July 25, 1933 2,302,933 Barol Nov. 24, 1942 2,422,705 Saint Clair June 24, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 375,177 France May 7, 1907 

